Introduction

Main Contrasts Between the Subtypes of EnneaE2: Conservation, Sexual, and Social

"She who enjoys herself... radiates her self-complacency in such a way that it is instantly shared by those around her, without needing to make explicit her quality through achievements or virtuous acts. So convinced of her merits, she doesn't feel the need to convince others, not even herself." — Claudio Naranjo

The Beggar Disguised as a King

In general, E2 believes that living with high emotional intensity and provoking emotions is what matters most in life. That’s why they manipulate relationships. In fact, they are subtly authoritarian, as they want to feel superior to others by eliciting admiration and special respect to feed their pride.

Indeed, they believe that their pride is their strength when, in reality, it is their neurotic and destructive mode. E2 falsifies their self-perception: they see themselves as loving and capable of giving completely, when in reality, they are beings in need of love (a beggar disguised as a king), who rejects their need, which would make them feel too fragile and exposed to abandonment. Therefore, they project this need onto others.

They disguise their need as generosity. And they capture others’ needs in the net of their availability, which is real, but they use it to feed their pride and idealized self-image.

They define all people as proud, enthusiastic, curious, passionate, frivolous, self-indulgent, ingenious, libertine, superficial, joyful, manipulative, intense, flattering, invasive, optimistic, tyrannical, naive, exaggerated, and somewhat shameless. It is as if something Dionysian remained in them eternally, and love was the engine of the world. They are the great hedonists of the Enneagram, along with the gluttons.

Now, E2’s hedonism is very primal, relating to the sensory pleasure and immediacy of being pleased and loved.

Like a child, they are in intimate contact with love, but also with whim and tyranny. Listening to Mozart, from the Self-Preservation 2 subtype, allows us to feel life as an E2 feels it. There is color, harmony, warmth, play, joy, pleasure, a kind of communion with the divine; and also tragedy, chaos, sadness, and profound pain, skillfully concealed behind a hysterical smile, like the protagonist of the movie Amadeus.

The person with this character knew love, was seen and loved. They arrived like a breath of fresh air in their home but learned too soon that this love had a price. In their case, being used as an object, emotional support, or commodity between their parents, which gave rise to feelings of humiliation and the development of pride as a passion.

It is paradoxical that, in reality, these eternal children never had a childhood. It was the price they paid to continue receiving their parents' admiring love and maintain their place of power: a suffocating throne that allowed them to be seen but left little space to simply be a child.

And so, their life goes on: An incessant attempt to reconquer that privileged place that only children can have. A longing to recover that loving gaze of approval and recognition that made them feel worthy of being loved. Ultimately, returning to the lost paradise.

The Desire to Shine and the Art of Manipulation

In this pursuit, they have learned how to shine and the art of manipulation, and they know how to alternate sweet words with more or less subtle poison, depending on the subtype. Their developed empathy is the compass that tells them what others need. Like a snake charmer, they will captivate their current lover or the person they are interested in, showering them with compliments and favors, until the other ends up thinking it is a privilege to have them in their life. The devotion they manage to awaken in the other is what nourishes E2.

Let’s begin by differentiating the three subtypes with this testimony:

"My way of being is the result of having become an adult too soon because I couldn’t afford to be a child. I thought that ‘by becoming an adult, I would be more loved by my parents, who praised my responsibility. So, I didn’t allow myself to live the traits I associated with childhood (they say these are from the Self-Preservation 2): dependency, irresponsibility, being capricious, even tenderness. They are part of my shadow. I denied them until I confronted them in the therapeutic process.

Although I believe I am the Sexual subtype, the Social one came later. Social aspects prevailed in me during the early part of adolescence, when what interested me most was

power; I was always a leader or boss of something. In the neighborhood gang, the school band, the boy scout patrol... I liked being in charge. And it was like that until the sexual instinct awakened. Then, I stopped being so interested in ambition, although not entirely, and started dreaming of romantic loves and searching for the ideal woman." — Luis Hernández

A premature sense of responsibility, as just described, can be crucial for the formation of this character. Their fantasy of grandeur allows them to validate the idea that they are special for what they give, not for who they are. From this vantage point, they avoid confronting the feeling of inadequacy they’ve carried since childhood and their urgency to be protected and guided.

Conservation: The Chosen One of Dad or Mom. Privilege

"If the emperor wants me, he must pay for it, for the honor of being with him is not enough." — W.A. Mozart

The Self-Preservation 2 has been the whim of mom or dad, the eternal child who keeps seeking the favor of the adults. Just as the emperor (Social 2) is the most intellectual, and the king (Sexual 2) is the most emotional, the prince is the most active (and dependent) of the three.

They rely on their fragility and "dazed" nature to get favoritism. They are selfish, capricious, tender, and playful. Unlike the other two subtypes, they manipulate from a more childish position, much like a child would.

The Self-Preservation 2 seems to have a right. They may act as if they are superior to others and expect special treatment, even being bold in their expectation of being pampered and throwing a tantrum if they don’t get what they want. Their logic is: "I give and do a lot for others; that’s why I deserve special treatment." As if, unconsciously, they were keeping a mental tally of how much they’ve sacrificed for the other. They may seem like a diva.

When they are focused on the other, they are the subtype most likely to exhaust themselves, without considering their own needs. They don’t rest enough or dedicate time to themselves. They love having guests and cooking, but perhaps they don’t allow themselves to enjoy the dinners and parties they offer. They unconsciously want their needs to be satisfied, but are rarely able to ask for help directly, instead hoping the other will guess. They tend to feel like martyrs and think the other is indebted to them for their services.

Proud of their sacrifices, their motto is "I have a right" (to be compensated). They come to the conclusion, from childhood: "I am the most important." And since then, they focus on satisfying their desires; they put all their effort into it. They are the most possessive with their things and the most selfish of the three subtypes.

The demand for rewards for all their sacrifices coexists with excessive eating and the use of drugs to suppress aggression. Denial of problems alternates with complaints: they go from "I don’t need help" to "No one cares about me." They often resort to emotional manipulation, blaming the other to fulfill their needs. (And when they dare to express them, they rarely accept the resources offered to them.)

In their less healthy expression, Self-Preservation 2s show great negligence toward their physical well-being. Eating disorders, psychosomatic syndromes, and hypochondriacal disorders are common. In any case, repressing emotional needs or aggressive feelings can lead to serious health problems.

In reality, E2s, in general, take little care of themselves, as their grandiose self-image makes them feel invulnerable.

Social: The Chosen One by the Gods. Ambition

"I have long conversations with myself, and I am so intelligent that sometimes I don’t understand a word of what I’m saying." — Oscar Wilde

Social 2s stand out for their ambition to be at the heart of everyone’s attention and be publicly recognized as people of reference. They seek attention directly and confuse being considered with being loved. They may act provocatively or unfriendly to avoid being ignored. Or they may marry influential people and focus their energy on the goals of their partner, educating their children to succeed in the world. Model mothers and competent wives are common in this character, close to E3 and E1 types.

"The worst thing in this world is not being talked about by others, but not being talked about by anyone. To be spoken of is frightening. To not be spoken of is worse." — Oscar Wilde

The social instinct of E2 is expressed in the motto "I am friends with everyone." There is a powerful desire to be valued by all the people in their social sphere. They enjoy introducing people and organizing gatherings at home. They are very efficient at making themselves necessary and are experts at creating networks; today, they might be called influencers. Others are surprised at how they treat almost everyone, from the cleaning staff to a

manager they don’t know, with a familiarity that makes them trustworthy. Another applicable motto for this subtype is "information is power," and they make it their own from childhood.

They enjoy being the center of attention in the social realm and have a great need to be remembered, fearing being unnoticed or excluded. They become intimate with valued people in the group, becoming their indispensable support. If they feel insecure about their social magnetism, they develop new skills. They try to impress by giving advice: spiritual, financial, medical... or by hinting at important people as if they knew them intimately. This puts them in difficult situations because the desire to let others know they are friends with "VIPs" can lead them to be indiscreet and reveal confidence.

The more trapped Social 2s are in their character structure, the more they frustrate those around them by being dispersed, with such a wide range of contacts and not truly paying attention to anyone. They are paternalistic and like to do favors, but make it clear to the other what they’ve done for them. "What would you do without me?" They are the classic accomplice who covers up the wrongdoings of an important person so they feel indebted.

Sexual: The Chosen One of a Man or Woman. Seduction

"In Madrid, I never set foot on the street because every time I appeared at the Ritz door, a legion of gentlemen would throw their capes on the ground for me to walk on, placing a never-ending carpet before me." — Mata Hari

The Sexual 2 moves between seduction and aggressiveness, combining fascination and sensuality. It is the most explicit, spontaneous, and wild of the three subtypes. Just as the Social 2 seduces intellectually, and the Self-Preservation 2 seduces with tenderness, the Sexual 2 does so through physicality. They are invasive, and if they want something, they take it, just like the Sexual E4 or E8.

Clearly, they use their empathy in the service of seduction more than for genuine interest in the other. They know how to weave webs from which it is difficult to escape because they become passionate when in pursuit. They are people who know they are special and want to be unforgettable; their only longing is to be adored again.

Their basic interest is to find romantic union, fusion, and they confuse being desired, where they are a master strategist, with being loved and valued. They can be a prodigal and indulgent parent, or a passionate and attentive lover, or both.

If they face resistance, they press and provoke to disarm objections. They may also accuse furiously, getting closer to the E8. Beneath their outbursts of anger lies a melancholic desire for total and enveloping connection with the other, an aspiration close to E4.

Common Confusions

Pride is related to the opinion we have of ourselves; vanity is related to what we wish others thought of us. — Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice

The Social 2 can be confused with the Social E3, and although subtle, there are determining differences. The image of E3 is more chameleon-like; in contrast, E2 pretends to adapt, as a means to achieve their goals. The E3 is more refined and sophisticated, while E2 is more striking, with a more personal style that may seem somewhat eccentric.

The E3 control their emotions more, especially in public, because they care more about their image being damaged. E2, on the other hand, in their self-aggrandizement, does not see the consequences of their vehemence and condescension. If there is conflict, E3 will maintain propriety to avoid damaging their image. E2, more counter-phobic, become passionate, believing they can convince the other and ignore the signs indicating that they are at risk of being excluded.

Both are competitive. The E3 seeks recognition for being good and competes to be valued for it. E2 "knows" they are the best and wants to be given the place they deserve. The E3 experiences anxiety and doubt for fear of not succeeding. E2, however, have confidence that they will succeed: their crazy idea is that they don't need to compete, even though they have been competing all their life, with their father, mother, or siblings, even if from a place of superiority.

Physical Differences

In their body structure, E2 shows a combination of oral and rigid character, with some masochistic components depending on the subtype. Their eyes are large and expressive, and they gesture when speaking.

In general, the image of pride is represented by a soft and gentle facial expression, with an elevated chin denoting superiority and arrogance. The shoulders, similarly raised, aim to gain height. Except in the Self-Preservation subtype, which often presents them forward, closing the chest due to their significant oral defenses. In fact, it is the subtype that most

resembles the envious character, and it is, among the proud, the one most aware of deficiency and need.

Social 2s are the most static and rigid in their sense of importance. Men are physically large, and women have a presence that makes them appear larger than they are; their tone of voice is firm and slightly deep.

Sexual 2s are more expressive and smiling; their body is serpentine, and everything moves in them.

The Self-Preservation 2 has a rounder body that, along with their features, resembles that of a child; their tone is calmer and more childlike than the Sexual subtype, which is more accelerated and sparkling.

The Fear Behind Passion

In the Self-Preservation 2, pride is not as visible as in the other subtypes, as it is hidden behind a childlike image. They fear becoming an adult.

The proud person belongs to the image triad (E2, E3, and E4), so the primal fear, even before the fear of not being worthy of love, is the fear of not being seen. Disappearing from the other’s sight—whether princess, queen, or empress—means death. Like in a musician or an actor, for E2, without you, there is no I. At the same time, their pending task is to see the other, who they only consider in relation to themselves.

The fear of the Self-Preservation 2 is reaching helplessness and not being able to support their basic needs on their own. Therefore, they anchor themselves in their most childlike part, seeking dependence and authorization from someone to protect them.

The Sexual 2 fears being left alone, so they passionately give. Like the protagonist of How to Be a Jewish Mother, a delirious metaphor for their drive to give to their children, but also for how to create deep feelings of debt and guilt.

The Social subtype needs to feel secure, to be the reference person in their environment, for which they renounce their emotions and surrender to their own ambition or to a cause.

E3 Mothers Are Talking:

— "My son adores me," says an E4. "He just gave me a ticket for a cruise to Alaska." — "Well, mine idolizes me," replies an E2. "He gave me an apartment in Miami last week

so I can spend the whole year under the sun." — "Well, that’s nothing," concludes E2. "Mine goes to therapy three times a week and pays one hundred euros per session. And who does he talk about all the time? Me!"

To avoid their latent fear, the Self-Preservation 2 disconnects from their sexuality and plays the role of a child. The Sexual 2 disconnects from their intellect to respond to patriarchal conquest models. And the Social 2 disconnects from emotion to avoid being distracted from their desired object, not feeling exhaustion or thinking about the self-imposed demands they face.

The Beacon is Love...

Each character gives meaning and value to life. In the case of E2s, that beacon and, at the same time, the driving force is love. In love with the fantastic image they’ve created of themselves, it is not surprising that they offer themselves as an inexhaustible source of pleasure, well-being, or protection... even to those they are not interested in. Their goal is to “recover” what they experienced as unconditional love in childhood.

All three subtypes seek intense and inexhaustible loving contact to fill the void masked by a childish egocentrism from which they cannot fully detach.

The Self-Preservation 2 experiences this in relationships where they feel pampered and protected. The Social 2 feels it when they are recognized for their worth, especially by someone they consider an authority. And the Sexual 2 experiences it through eroticism, but always to feed the pride of being desired—not with just any love, but exceptional, unique, eternal love that can fill the existential void.

It is said that E2 cannot love because they only love themselves. The truth is that they only recognize themselves as worthy of love when they give, when they do, when they help. They don’t know how to love themselves for who they are, and they seek to know themselves as kind through the other’s gaze. They harbor the irrational idea that if they are needed, they will be loved. That’s why, even if they appear as a king, they are nothing but a beggar, a hungry soul capable of anything, including manipulation, self-exploitation, or cruelty, if necessary, to obtain it.

The princess, enamored with her childlike image, only seeks affection from her current protector. The queen goes further; in love with love, she seeks the devotion of her lovers and closest friends. And the self-proclaimed empress craves the love of her empire. The Social 2 never found their place in the family in relation to their siblings. Hence, their need

to please everyone. It’s as if they seek that place in other “systems” that they couldn’t find in their own, pleasing the whole audience.

"We have felt orphaned of parents and siblings and long for that emotional network continuously. The more, the better..." — Monica Angulo

All three subtypes share a compassionate and erotic love. They differ in that the Self-Preservation 2 has a more compassionate component, like a mother; the Sexual 2 is more erotic, like a child; and the Social 2, like a father, is more admiring.

The proud person establishes unequal power relationships. The Sexual 2 is active, the proposer, the masculine one. In the Self-Preservation 2, there is more passive-feminine behavior. They adopt a "down" position, proposing less, waiting for someone to tell them how to do things.

They offer tenderness, joy, innocence, and adventure that only a fresh and witty child can offer. The Sexual 2 offers passion, fire, and intensity, like an adolescent. And the Social 2, closer to the adult world and in a very paternal role, offers security, dignity, shelter, and even salvation, if needed.

The motto for the Sexual 2’s instinct could be "longing for intimacy." It is, of all the Enneagram types, the most genuinely dependent on intimacy with others—both physical and emotional. If the Social 2 desires to be friends with everyone, the Sexual 2 seeks to be the best friend of one person. They focus on a few people and love to consider themselves their friends’ number one, their most intimate confidant. They are fascinated by spending one-on-one moments, sharing secrets, discussing their relationship, and feeling informed about the other’s favorite topics.

...And the Ship, Seduction

We seduce, using lies, and pretend to be loved by ourselves. — Paul Geraldy

Seduction is natural for all proud people. They do it without much awareness of it, without measure or the slightest scruple, and without taking responsibility for the consequences it may provoke. All three subtypes secretly despise those who succumb to their seduction. In fact, they enjoy manipulating and humiliating their "suitors."

The word “seductive” is commonly associated with E2, but it especially applies to the Sexual 2. All nine types know how to seduce, each in their own way, but the Sexual 2

seduces by paying great attention to the other, always available to listen to their problems. A marked availability for sex may also be part of the picture.

They focus their passion on the act of conquest and on the eroticism itself. If they suddenly feel doubt about their ability to fascinate, the person of this subtype starts to overwhelm the other, invaded by the fear of not being desired. They hardly accept a "no" as an answer.

If the Social 2 likes to expand their circle of friends, the Sexual 2 prefers to keep their friends only for themselves, becoming extremely jealous and possessive. They watch the other if they fear losing sight of them or having them out of reach, controlling them compulsively, and are incapable of accepting a bad reaction, even going as far as setting traps or tormenting the object of their romantic obsession.

If the Sexual 2 attracts with all their sexual energy, with every part of their being, the Self-Preservation 2 seduces with apparent innocence, with their naivety, ignorance, and inexperience. You can’t help but protect someone so tender and helpless, awakening maternal and paternal instincts. They give themselves less permission to choose and find themselves in relationships

lacking erotic love.

The Self-Preservation 2 uses seduction to gain privilege. Of course, they want to be desired, but in a “different” way. They don’t sell themselves as an erotic object but as a rejuvenating pill, promising: “With me, you will never get bored.” In return, they receive the perpetual title of “princess of the house” or “mom’s favorite.”

The Social 2 is active in conquest, but less passionate than the Sexual 2, as their purpose is not so much to be desired but to gain power through their romantic relationship.

Their seduction is aimed at the group, while what they really need is intimacy, and they try to reproduce the power they once had as a child. For this, they offer protection, contacts, advice... adopting a superior attitude.

"I remember when I started gestalt and SAT and they talked to me about my seduction. I couldn’t see it anywhere; I didn’t understand what others saw. Over time and with more awareness, I clearly see my way of seducing: there’s always a very feminine part in play, and above all, taking care, helping, advising, and saving the other. It’s about trying to be very necessary and valued as someone truly special." — Monica Angulo

Thus, the Self-Preservation 2 seduces to receive, the Sexual 2 seduces to share, and the Social 2 seduces to give.

Lack and Overabundance

E2 are among the most narcissistic characters. With their fantasies of great personal importance, they have built a concept of themselves as a special person, which actually hides a total lack of trust in their own worth. The excessively inflated self-image masks another devalued one that, if it emerges, causes unbearable shame that can lead to despair.

E2 does not show their deficiencies. That would mean appearing vulnerable, in other words, weak, defective, useless, in the eyes of others: a direct path to rejection and abandonment. To camouflage their humanity, they present themselves to the world as arrogant, with a special glow. Like a skilled actor, they use the mechanism of repression to camouflage any need or emotion that would make them connect with the internal sensation of fraud and deficiency.

All three subtypes repress, especially envy. The subtype that connects most with it is the Self-Preservation 2. To hide it, E2 becomes enviable and seems to offer generosity wrapped in optimism, without explicitly asking for anything in return. Thus, their pride feeds on a sense of superiority (better called invulnerability) that prevents them from expressing their weaknesses except indirectly, through manipulation, whims, disguised contempt, or hostile anger.

The Generosity of E2 Enneatype

The generosity of E2 is not very authentic, as rather than giving, they flatter to charm. They rely heavily on the admiration they receive, becoming very attentive to what they give while neglecting what they receive in return. Consequently, they are not very inclined to gratitude.

The Sexual and Social 2s appear so fulfilled and fortunate that they seem immune even to illness or death. Karen Horney, speaking about neurotic pride, says:

"They avoid any thought that might damage their pride. The most significant example is avoiding thinking about death, because the idea of aging or dying like any other mortal is unbearable to them. The Dorian Gray of Oscar Wilde (a Social 2) is an artistic presentation of the pride of eternal youth."

"I was really surprised when I realized I was getting older; someone like me shouldn’t have an expiration date," comments a woman of this subtype, Ana Baza.

The Self-Preservation 2

The Self-Preservation 2, on the other hand, needs people to come and see them, to pamper them; there is a fear of being left alone in their illness. They connect more with lack than the other subtypes. This adult, who faces the world like a child, feels less capable, more insecure, devalues themselves more easily, and appears more needy. They openly express their need, allowing themselves to complain and protest more than the Sexual and Social 2s, who are more self-sacrificing and resilient.

When receiving something, the first thought that comes to the Self-Preservation 2’s mind is that it is undeserved. They also share the insatiability of the E4: behind one whim comes another, and another... as if there were a bunch of pending desires waiting to be fulfilled. And what they don’t have and what they don’t know, they may present as something "funny": "Well, I don’t know anything.""I have no idea... I’m not interested."

The Sexual 2

Sexual 2s are the quintessential overabundant. They lack nothing; in fact, they have everything the other needs, like a mother with large breasts full of milk to feed us all and keep us trapped. How could such a full, wonderful, and special person need anything or anyone? They seduce with what they have, not with what they need, and they won’t allow any cracks to appear in that well-crafted image of overabundance.

The proud Sexual 2 seeks to be someone through their love life. They mitigate their anguish by being irreplaceable. Their sense of importance is fueled by the pleasure they provide. The conqueror and the femme fatale are characters of a conquest passion that goes beyond just falling in love; what excites them is being indispensable to the object of desire.

The Sexual 2 covers their miseries very well with seduction. Intellectually, they may show interest in something the other desires, but it is always superficial. They provoke much envy as they seem to get everything they want... But they also fail. This, however, is covered by their fantasy or their flustered demeanor, so others can only see the bright side of the facade.

The Social 2

The Social 2, in the end, is the subtype that has the least connection with lack. They anesthetize themselves by immersing themselves in action. Like E7s, they have a packed agenda full of activities that makes them feel indispensable. Like the other subtypes, they escape into fantasy; in their case, creating plans, coordinating projects, or making contacts. They like to feel like the director of an eight-ring circus. For the Social 2, having problems to solve gives their life meaning and allows them to disconnect from their needs. The frantic pace they submit themselves to keeps the feeling of inadequacy in check, and if for some reason they get sick or experience failure, they retreat at home until the storm passes, hardly anyone knowing their situation.

Profound Self-Devaluation

The self-affirmation strategies of this Enneatype are compensatory defenses of a deeply damaged self-image. The apparent grandeur of E2 is corroded at its base by continuous feelings of humiliation, inferiority, guilt, inadequacy, and lack of authenticity.

E2 holds the intimate conviction of a radical lack of value, and this triggers the compensatory impulse of pride, which inhibits envy. To maintain the fragile structure of pride, they must act to receive continuous gratifications.

The Sexual subtype primarily finds these gratifications in emotional relationships. The Social subtype obtains their triumphs in other areas.

A Personal Testimony

I had a very vivid dream: I was in the school restrooms, a crazy child running and running, unable to stop crying and moving. I was filled with rage, hate, and a profound feeling of humiliation that invaded my body. It felt like an unbearable pain that pushed me to move uncontrollably, searching for an exit to nowhere. I cried for vengeance, and my adult self couldn’t find a way to console it.

This dream reflects the abuse and the subsequent undiagnosed childhood depression I suffered at a young age in school: I was forced to eat my own vomit in front of my classmates. It happened for years and stripped me of the basic sense of worth. It created a hole inside me that I could only compensate for by seeking recognition in sports success and in the pursuit of an ideal love to fill the void. I was able to release much of my anger through exhaustion and struggle, which turned into the many successes I achieved.

It wasn’t until adolescence that I experienced a paradoxical situation I couldn’t understand until years later, in the context of my therapeutic process. I achieved a sporting goal I had been yearning for for years: a championship and a national record. And that same day, which should have been a very special moment of celebration and joy, turned into an unfathomable pit of sadness and disappointment. Later, I realized the main disappointment was that my emotional situation hadn’t changed. I didn’t feel more loved, although I was congratulated; I didn’t feel more valid, although I was more famous. The unconscious expectations placed on me were that my world of insecurity, inferiority, and lack of self-esteem would be over, but it wasn’t.

— Toni Aguilar

Fantasy: Better to Dream

E2 does best in daydreaming. Fantasy is the strategy used by all three subtypes as a refuge from pain and frustration. Since childhood, they have needed to escape from a disordered emotional world that no one helped them structure or express. They’ve learned to create a reality tailored to them, more appealing than the one outside the door or even in their own home, developing a great ability to disconnect. Coloring any failure or loss as something insignificant often ends in more or less concealed depression.

The princess imagines that the whole kingdom has realized how unique and wonderful she is, in a fairy tale where all her wishes are fulfilled. The queen dreams that she is the sublime lover, mother, daughter, and companion, adored unconditionally. And the empress delights in knowing herself to be magnanimous and imagines great works that will be applauded for her creativity.

Emotionalization: "I Feel, Therefore I Am"

Emotionalization, as opposed to intellectualization, is common among the proud. They "hypnotize" themselves, believing that only if they feel intensely is it authentic. Since "life is emotion," they like to inject emotion into everything. They replace the word "think" with "feel," as if that makes it more real (what one thinks can be refuted; what one feels, cannot).

Only emotion counts, then. Except for guilt, which they hardly experience. In any case, a narcissistic shame of: "How could someone like me...?"

But all three subtypes deny what they feel, blame others for their discomfort, and hide when they feel vulnerable. With the Self-Preservation subtype, it’s not easy to know what’s

going on because they live on the surface of their emotional world, in constant denial of pain and aggression. They are the most weepy, but they give themselves less permission to show anger, and when it comes out, it’s in the form of complaints, irritability, and tantrums. Although very sensitive, they have difficulty connecting with external aggressions and react late.

Sexual and Social 2s have more direct contact with anger, sometimes staging disproportionate and fully manipulative tragicomic situations. I call it the "vaudeville." Life is a theater, a game where there are barely any limits, and where emotions, if not intense and dramatized, don’t seem authentic; they simply aren’t. This waste of energy and dishonesty wears down relationships with others. — Ana Baza

The Sexual 2

The Sexual 2 is the most theatrical and intense. They allow themselves to get angry and react quickly to external aggression. The Social 2 is more rigid and stiff. They maintain form more than the Sexual 2, especially in public, and when they finally explode, they do so from a position of power that assures them success. They can then appear ironic, cruel, or ruthless, both to themselves and to others.

"I feel that I have great masochistic defenses. I swallow and hold things in, telling myself things to avoid feeling what’s painful and difficult to confront; until finally, I connect with that anger and explode, and from there, it’s disproportionate and unrestrained. So much so that I can be very hurtful and not see the other at all." — Monica Angulo

The Intellectual Social 2

The Social 2 is the most intellectual of the proud. To face the world and succeed, to be a leader, they need to use their mind, to organize, create strategies, and make decisions, leaving aside emotional doubts. They inhibit their emotions more than the other subtypes.

The Sexual 2 is the most clearly anti-intellectual. In their life, there’s no room for reason. They discard intellectual pursuits; they even despise them, as their feelings are the most important. They thus avoid reasoning and common logic. They are the most impulsive, provocative, and wild. They need to feel free, cannot stand limits, and love transgression. In

this, as in their pursuit of intensity, they are very close to the E8, becoming destructive or self-destructive.

The Self-Preservation 2 may be more intellectual than the Sexual 2 if they think that will lead to affection and attention or guarantee the protection of a loved one. They also need to nurture their intellect to appear independent. But they do not reach the levels of the Social 2.

On Dependency...

All E2s are emotionally dependent, although each with their own camouflage. The Self-Preservation 2 is the most dependent, although they believe they are not and present themselves to the world as self-sufficient. Many distance themselves from their families with the idea that distance will reduce dependence, but it usually doesn't work. In fact, they don’t know how to maintain relationships without falling into dependency, which is why they find it so difficult to form their own family and commit. This differentiates them from the Sexual and Social types, who are less afraid of pairing and unpairing.

With the Sexual 2, it’s different. They live each romance as if it were the only and definitive one. In any case, what they depend on is love and feeling loved.

The Social 2s, for their part, are intolerant of any limitations, whether their own or others', and act from counterdependence, as love doesn’t interest them much.

On Responsibility...

None of the three subtypes are attracted to ordinary things or routine, and daily responsibilities are very boring to them. Each in their own way seeks to make life more intense, bright, and peculiar.

The Self-Preservation 2, due to its attachment to childhood, is the least responsible of the three. They were quite protected as children. When asked to do something, they tend to think: "I can't,""I don't know how to do it,""I'm too busy," or "I'm exhausted." However, they are overflowing with energy for pleasurable things.

The Sexual 2, on the other hand, with their overabundance, sells their ability to take responsibility better and is more willing to care for and sacrifice for others.

Due to their desire for power and to manage groups, the Social 2 is the most responsible and hardworking, taking on high responsibilities in various areas of their life. To do this, they need to be extremely demanding, rigid, and controlling.

“Even when separated, I’ve caught myself controlling how my ex does or doesn’t do things with our child. Until I realized that not only was I harming my ex-partner as the man he is, but also my child, due to the model of man he might grow up with and his difficulty becoming an independent man without dependence on mom.” — Monica Angulo

On Freedom

Another trait that defines the proud, lacking boundaries and prone to excess, is their love for freedom. What they truly yearn for is to be pleased. In other words, they want to do what they want, when they want, with whom they want, and how they want. This is what they call freedom.

The Self-Preservation 2 is capable of renouncing freedom in exchange for affection and protection. The Social 2 buys freedom by becoming someone important and through the status they acquire, although they remain dependent on their social image. The ones who claim their freedom and use it in a more intense, provocative, and rebellious way are the Sexual 2s.

Permissiveness

All three subtypes have rigid characters, and in their polarity, they are permissive and self-indulgent with their faults or forgetfulness. The Social 2 is condescending with others' mistakes, but only as a manipulative strategy. With themselves, they can go from high demands to a complete lack of awareness of their responsibility.

“I can go from too much work and stress to a clear ‘I stop and do nothing… because I need to.’ Everything is very polarized. Although there’s more clearly a difficulty in stopping.” — Monica Angulo

The Self-Preservation 2 is very flexible in their daily life. They don’t care where they leave their things in the kitchen and accept it when someone moves them, as they highly value others’ freedom. They try to make others do what they want through their childish seduction, sweetness, and docility, but they need to ensure they have approval. In other

words, what they want is also what the other wants, and they get very frustrated if the other gives them a disapproving look.

The Sexual 2 is the most permissive, but also the one who can quickly demand great sacrifices from the other to show their unconditional love.

Doing to Be

The three subtypes are dynamic. The Self-Preservation 2 is the one who focuses most on doing for others, neglecting their own self-care. It’s also the one who focuses the least on their activity. They may know where they'd like to go, but they get distracted along the way.

The Sexual 2s are the most emotional among the emotional types, and although they appear electrifying, they only move when there’s a clear objective in sight, as the intense emotionality they infuse into everything exhausts them. At work, they "pretend" to work, but they focus on what they like, get lost in the details, and appearance matters more than content.

The Social 2 is the most disciplined but sometimes inconsistent. They use their mind to spot opportunities and quickly move to execute. It’s a shame they can’t do everything they commit to.

Each subtype gets tangled in a different level of action, which they must stay aware of. The Self-Preservation 2, being the most timid, needs to be sure that they will receive a privileged spot. If not, they are overwhelmed with paralysis, waiting for an order or permission. The impetuous Sexual 2 acts without considering the consequences, neither for themselves nor for others.

The Social 2 plans, in their grandiose fantasy, more than they can carry out.

“I’ve caught myself committing to meetings, projects, activities that I later didn’t fulfill. This has caused painful returns from friendships. From impulsivity, enthusiasm, and believing I can do everything, I make mistakes, and the price I pay is high.” — Monica Angulo

Ambition

The Self-Preservation 2 seeks power through others, meaning they focus their efforts on conquering the figure of power, rather than wanting to attain power for themselves. This differentiates them from the Social 2, who is colder and stronger.

The Self-Preservation 2, above all, prefers to secure a comfortable and pleasant life and avoids the effort it would take to have a lot of power or be very important. However, ambition remains, taking the form of demand, especially with others. Their process must always be upward, and if not, they’ll let fantasy make them think it is.

Motherhood

The Sexual 2 is the most maternal. They tend to be involved in relationships full of madness, permissiveness, and impulse, more focused on their conquests than on their children, but they do show generosity.

The Self-Preservation 2 is more like a mother who plays. They may experience themselves as a friend and find it hard to see themselves as an adult mother. They give a lot but still expect more (recognition and love). They get anxious as their children grow and they lose importance.

The Social 2 gives the appearance of being bigger, more mature. They maintain an image of being all-powerful in front of their children so they depend on them and need their presence more strongly. They are a mother who shines, who "gives herself to the world."

Equivalences of E2 in the Academic World: Conservation, Sexual, and Social Subtypes

By Hanna Husseini de Oliveira, Alba Arena, and Ángel Saavedra

EnneaE2 and Hysteria

In this chapter, we will address E2 personality of the Enneagram, correlating its emotional and behavioral patterns with the personality theories already described in the academic world. We will start by discussing hysteria as a manifestation and central axis of the behaviors observed in E2, because, in general, we can correlate this Enneatype with the hysterical personality.

The word 'hysteria' comes from the Greek hysteron, meaning 'womb'. Hippocrates used the term to describe women with nervous disorders who had been unable to conceive. This disorder was thought to result from an aberrant movement of blood from the womb to the

brain. In the Middle Ages, hysteria was viewed as a demonic possession of women, a term that has historically alluded to femininity and sexuality over the centuries.

After years of protoanalytic research, it was found that the Enneagram E2 is predominantly made up of women, and that their compulsive search for love is usually manifested in the form of erotic seduction. In this sense, we can correlate this type of personality with the primordial trait of hysteria found in women with a strong erotic tendency.

Fabio Riemenschneider, in his article "Hysteria and the Witch Hunts," describes the terror of the Inquisition:

France, 1599. The young peasant Martha Brossier is arrested and tried under the accusation of witchcraft. For the clergy, the signs of a pact with the devil are undeniable: her body shakes in convulsions, her muscles contort, her face twists, she speaks in an altered tone, and she is insensitive to long needle pricks... She is declared guilty and, as such, executed by the Inquisition.

Women like Martha would later become the subjects of studies led by Jean-Martin Charcot in the French hospital La Salpêtrière. Psychoanalysis, in fact, emerged from Sigmund Freud's questioning of sexuality, as he was one of the doctors attending Charcot’s laboratory of hysteria research.

Claudio Naranjo observes that although hysteria was the subject of Freud's research, his comments on this clinical manifestation are rare, and his first psychoanalytic descriptions of the hysterical character were not presented until 1930.

E2 Person

E2 person is characterized by a proud demeanor, presenting themselves as happy, affable, affectionate, seductive, and helpful. For them, it is not enough to receive attention; they must be the center of attention. Their self-esteem relies on external validation through the privileges they feel they deserve. In general, they compulsively seek love, with romantic love as their motivating center. It is within this context that their idea of self-esteem is supported. For this reason, they often use seduction, often associated with erotic manifestation, in order to obtain confirmation from the object of desire. They need to feel loved. To achieve this, they are always available, showing empathy for the emotional world of others, and offering vague love and understanding, while seeming to need nothing. To this end, they repress their own needs and build an inflated self-image, trusting it, using all their energies to avoid contact with their primordial lack. Conversion symptoms, acting, and fantasies are manifestations of the libidinous secrets of Freud’s hysterics. In the same way,

E2 of the Enneagram maintains pride in their sense of having much love to offer, while secretly satisfying their own need for love.

It is in the eventual contact with this lack, and in the frustration of love, where E2 can become intolerant, hysterical, demanding, dramatic, and aggressive.

According to Naranjo, it is easy to see how the unconsciousness of need — and particularly the unconsciousness of needing love — underpins pride, because if pride is based on one's worth, what measure of value comes most naturally to a child's mind than the belief that they deserve their parents' love? This reaches the point where the proud person implicitly says: "I am deserving of love and feel loved. My desire for love is satisfied, I am not frustrated in my thirst for love." However, this self-image as non-desirous clashes with the progressive recognition of the lack, and it is the "histrionics" who make this conflict evident.

Psychoanalytic authors relate the hysterical character to genital conflict resulting from unresolved Oedipal situations. Naranjo agrees with the psychoanalytic assertion about the Oedipal inclination of the hysterical character and sees this tendency in Enneagram E2. In his book Character and Neurosis, he transcribes reports of protoanalysis, where students speak of the experience of feeling like "daddy’s girl" or "the favorite." Or even, when facing a negative experience of abandonment or rejection, they create the fantasy of waiting for the prince (who would be the father) or being the center of the universe.

He describes:

The transition from frustration to self-satisfied and self-satisfying posture or self-image can be seen in women as the step from the relative rejection experience by the mother to the development of seduction aimed at becoming the father's favorite.

Sexual 2 and its Histrionic Aspect

The DSM refers to the hysterical personality and histrionic disorder, two profiles that seem attributable, with reservations, to the Sexual 2 Enneagram type.

Hysteria appears and disappears as a diagnostic entity in the DSM. In the second edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-II) of 1968, the hysterical personality was a syndrome characterized by excitability, emotional instability, hyper-reactivity, self-dramatization, attention-seeking, immaturity, vanity, and excessive dependence.

In DSM-III (1980), personality characteristics associated with hysteria were grouped into the diagnosis of histrionic personality disorder, within axis II of personality disorders.

The person with this personality profile is blocked in an oral frustration that seeks compensation. They often show a profile characterized by excessive attachment, masochism, and paranoia. According to DSM-IV, there is a general pattern of excessive emotionality and attention-seeking:

1.They are uncomfortable in situations where they are not the center of attention. 2.Their interaction with others is usually characterized by sexually seductive or provocative behavior. 3.They show a superficial and rapidly changing emotional expression. 4.They constantly use their physical appearance to draw attention to themselves. 5.They speak in an excessively subjective and lack of nuance manner. 6.They show self-dramatization, theatricality, and exaggerated emotional expression. 7.They are suggestible, for example, easily influenced by others or by circumstances. 8.They consider their relationships to be more intimate than they really are.

These people often present themselves as vain, pretentious, and immature, and tend to speak in an effusive and dramatic manner. They display an exaggerated expression of emotions, stormy interpersonal relationships, an egocentric attitude, and manipulative behavior.

Manipulation can manifest through threats or suicide attempts, or other behaviors meant to draw attention. There is an exaggerated need to appear to others as more than they really are. Their expressions are often not authentic or spontaneous; instead, they tend to act in a theatrical manner. They need to be recognized as special beings, and to achieve this, they have no qualms about using all their seductive potential, both verbally and physically. In the same way, the Sexual 2 operates.

Histrionics, like the Sexual 2 of the Enneagram, almost always react too quickly to situations that require analysis and reflection. They don’t always focus their attention long enough to perceive the details of a situation, and as a result, respond with generalities that have an emotional undertone. When asked to describe something, they almost always respond with impressions or emotions rather than facts.

People with this type of disorder, like E2, operate based on gut feelings. They are not only influenced by others' opinions, but they also get distracted easily by the gaze of others. It’s easy to grab their attention, and just as easy to lose it. Their behavior tends to be scattered. These attention problems make them seem incredibly naive about trivial matters. In their constant search for novelty and intensity, they feel suffocated by stable situations, which seem monotonous and boring to them. This leads them to latch on intensely to new situations, which they abandon without much hesitation once they become known or mastered.

Like the histrionics, Sexual 2 do not feel loved, and they may even feel despised if they are not the center of attention, reacting by trying to become sexually irresistible. Their appearance and, generally, their behavior are often inappropriate, provocative, and sexually charged.

This well-developed sexual instinct is not only directed toward romantic partners but pervades much of their life (friendships, professional relationships, cordial relationships...), though in reality, they almost never desire intimate sexual activity.

In particular, women dress and behave seductively, with much flirtation in their manner of walking, talking, and even looking, with a special glance directed at the potential victims of their seduction.

For men, there is often excessive softness and courtesy, with behaviors and facial expressions that are feminine and delicate. Sometimes they manifest extremely masculine attitudes, and at other times, they are subtly effeminate and seductive, combining this flirtation with childish behaviors and patterns of sexual promiscuity, along with dependent and childish attitudes toward women.

They tend to have very unstable behavior; moods change quickly without external triggers. Sometimes, a mere glance from someone can provoke an exaggerated reaction with the clear intention of winning the audience's approval. They live the performance so authentically that they imbue it with an air of “authenticity.” There is a strong tendency to deceive, and while they may sometimes appear very compliant and reasonable, internally, they oscillate between disapproval and disdain for anything that doesn’t align with their plans.

According to Millon’s classification from his biosocial learning theory, the EnneaE2 also matches the histrionic personality disorder, which shares significant traits with the dependent personality, as Naranjo notes in Character and Neurosis. A dependent personality that Naranjo attributes to E4, which has a direct and inverse relationship with E2.

These are the characteristics Millon describes, which are similar to E2:

• Intense need for affection and attention, actively and manipulatively sought. • Uses seduction tricks to obtain attention. • Sharp sensitivity to the moods of others. • Hypervigilance. • Inconstant pattern of behaviors and emotions. • Personal dissatisfaction in unique bonds and constant need for stimuli. • Whimsical.

• Actively involved in caring for others, not altruistically, but to ensure their attention, desiring praise and constant admiration and satisfaction. • Quickly changes partners, seeking another to fulfill their needs. • Attractive, charming, and sensual. • Popular, extroverted, and social.

Millon’s detailed description by observation spheres presents common traits with the proud character:

Observable Behavior: Dramatic

• Hyperactive. • Relate in a fleeting and provocative manner. • Intolerant of inactivity, with impulsive, whimsical, and emotional behaviors. • Tendency toward momentary excitement and hedonistic adventures. • Talent for expressing emotions and provoking admiration; exhibitionists. • Superficial in their expressions, whimsical, excitable. • Little tolerance for frustration.

Interpersonal Behavior: Attention-Seeking

• The main goal is affection and attention. • Maintain cordial, service-oriented relationships, where they sell their charm. • Fun and sexually provocative. • Seductive, flirtatious, and flattering. • Like to play with sexual relationships but become immature or apprehensive if things get serious. • Unable to maintain the image they initially project; they have many acquaintances and few close friends. • Retreat when relationships demand depth and persistence. • Use their charms to sell themselves, with an attractive facade, gestures, and acts that impress and entertain. • Very sensitive to possible rejections, specialize in avoiding them. • Satisfy others' desires; always feel available.

Cognitive Style: Frivolous

• Avoid introspective thinking. • Suggestible, integrate little from their experiences. • Speak in generalities, impressionistically, and thoughtlessly. • Behave as empty organisms, reacting more to external stimuli than internal ones. • Highly focused on the thoughts of those from whom they expect approval and attention. • Their radar alerts them to signs of imminent rejection and how to manipulate. • Superficial cognitive style. Distracted and frivolous, lacking curiosity and an inability to concentrate. • Avoid troublesome or disturbing thoughts or sensations. • Dissociate from thoughts, people, and activities that might interfere with their strategy of superficiality.

Self-Image: Gregarious

• They consider themselves sociable, friendly, conformist, stimulating, and charming. • Skilled at creating an exciting and interesting life. They suppress their signs of weakness, agitation, or hostility.

Object Representations: Superficial

• They are insatiable in their need for approval, attention, and stimulation. • They feel devoid of an internal self and seek constant nourishment from others to fill this void. • They seek guidance from those around them. • They seduce without stopping, in an indiscriminate and persistent manner. • The indifference or neutrality of others provokes feelings of emptiness and rejection in them. • They abandon intimate relationships for fear that their fraud will be discovered, leading to numerous failed relationships.

Defense Mechanisms: Dissociation and Repression

• Their orientation toward what others think and feel makes it difficult for them to identify their own feelings. • They repress, lock away, or dissociate all memories that cause discomfort; much of their past is blank.

• They devote their energy to creating and maintaining socially acceptable facades, which help them avoid the awareness of painful thoughts or emotions. • Massive repression of the internal self to keep the triviality of their existence, their emptiness, and their lack of content outside of their consciousness; this is how they maintain their self-esteem and believe that if they attend to their inner world, they will lose their alertness to the desires and moods of others.

Morphological Organization: Unconnected

• Their morphological structure and internal world organization are poorly connected. • Their defense mechanisms are broad and general, aiming to maintain total psychic cohesion. • They are poorly capable of functioning on their own, as they have deprived themselves of previous learning, making them even more dependent. • Their psychic world is impoverished, deficient, and insubstantial, and they maintain it by always focusing on the external. • To maintain their exteroceptive vigilance, they reduce their internal attention and actively try to annihilate any awareness of internal emptiness. • They find it intolerable to show their internal emptiness as it would expose the conflict, fraud, cognitive sterility, and emotional poverty.

Mood or Temperament: Inconstant

• High levels of energy and activation, with a low threshold for reaction. • Rapidly changing and superficial emotions. • Emotional ease, high levels of sensory irritability, excessive sympathetic activity, and lack of cortical inhibition. • Inconsistent, intense, chaotic, and wide intervals of emotion.

It can be intuited that in their childhood and early years, they exhibited a high level of emotional response and likely fostered these levels, provoking stimulating reactions in others.

Millon completes this classification with variants reflecting the different types associated with the various instincts: Conservation, Sexual, and Social. They are, respectively, the childlike histrionic, the theatrical histrionic, and the vivacious histrionic; or the appeaser, the tempestuous, and the fake.

In all aspects described by Millon, we can see the characteristics of E2 (keeping in mind that he is describing not a character type but a personality disorder from the perspective of clinical pathology). While none of these characteristics can be rejected, we can nuance some. For example, it is striking that Millon does not consider the polarity of pain and pleasure as characteristic, while E2 is a pleasure-driven personality that actively avoids pain.

Millon also does not mention E2's need for love, both in giving and receiving. Finally, he does not describe the false abundance, which is a core characteristic of E2.

The Self-Preservation 2 and its Childlike Aspect

The Self-Preservation 2 invests its energies in strategies aimed at satisfying their need to feel loved. It is essential for them to know they are special to avoid the risk of losing support. Claudio Naranjo refers to this subtype as "against the 2" or "anti-2" because, among the proud subtypes, the Self-Preservation subtype camouflages pride behind a childlike sharpness. They fulfill the demands of family and friends, sacrificing their own needs.

They believe they must have the privilege simply because they believe they are special. We can assume that primary narcissism parallels the central movement of the Self-Preservation 2, particularly in caricatured individuals.

According to Freud, primary narcissism is a legacy of the narcissistic ideal of the parents projected onto the child. The child must recover all the privileges the parents were forced to renounce. Freud called the position in which parents often place their child "His Majesty the Baby." This Freudian term fits well with the type of pride experienced by the Self-Preservation 2.

Eric Berne divides personality into three components, which he calls ego states: Parent, Adult, and Child. These relate to the way a person thinks, feels, and acts. It is a concrete reality that allows for diagnosis through observation of vocabulary, tone of voice, gestures, and body language.

Berne postulates a healthy dynamic, where the positive elements of each state are articulated with the discernment of the Adult. The Child is the infantile component of our personality, representing both the positive aspects of the child archetype and the darker side. In the Self-Preservation 2, we observe a predominance of this ego state. There is contamination of the Adult by the Child.

Among the subtypes with hysterical traits, the Self-Preservation 2 is undoubtedly the most structured in terms of childlike hysteria and the most dependent. It is likely that the term "psycho-infantile," mentioned in the ICD-10, as a variation of hysteria, has emerged from the observation of individuals of the Self-Preservation 2 type.

Given the childlike aspect characteristic of the Self-Preservation 2, we can find aspects of dependent personality disorder in its functioning dynamics.

Reich, in Character Analysis, speaks of a variant in the hysterical character: As other mechanisms are found in the hysterical character in addition to the general ones, they no longer belong specifically to this type of character. For example, depressive mechanisms are often found. In these cases, it is discovered that the incestuous-genital fixation was partly replaced by regression to oral mechanisms. The marked tendency of hysterics toward oral regressions explains the sexual stasis in this area.

The hysterical character is, in its pure form, agile, nervous, and vivacious. If it is depressive, withdrawn, and autistic, it shows mechanisms no longer specifically hysterical. However, it is justified to speak of hysterical depressions as a contrast to melancholic depressions.

By describing this variant of hysteria with an oral tendency, Reich corroborates the hypothesis that the Self-Preservation 2 contains, in its intrapsychic dynamics, aspects of histrionic personality disorder and tendencies of dependent personality disorder as described in DSM-IV-TR.

But the description of dependent personality disorder serves us only as a guideline to include in our view a tendency of this subtype, which manifests intensely in the more pathological cases of the Self-Preservation 2.

According to the DSM-IV-TR, individuals with dependent personality disorder have great difficulty making everyday decisions. They tend to be passive and allow others to take initiatives and assume responsibility in important areas of their lives. They fear losing support or approval and often have trouble expressing disagreement, especially with those they depend on. They struggle to initiate projects or do things independently. They may go to extremes to obtain affection and support, even offering themselves for unpleasant tasks if it helps attract the attention they need.

People with this disorder feel discomfort or helplessness when alone, fearing they will be unable to take care of themselves. They may cling to others to avoid being alone. When a significant relationship ends, they may desperately seek new contact to provide the care and support they need.

The difference between dependent personality disorder and histrionic personality disorder is that the former is characterized by self-nullification and docile behavior, while the latter presents a gregarious exuberance with an active demand for attention.

Similar to dependent personality disorder, the Self-Preservation 2 subtype struggles to think for themselves, choose, and recognize their preferences. Their efforts are compulsively focused on pleasing, serving, and establishing dependent relationships. Like the histrionic personality, they have an active profile and use all their energy to maintain control over relationships and feel loved. This distinguishes this subtype from dependent personality disorder.

Just as E2 has developed the ability to adapt their image according to the expectations of their environment, the Self-Preservation 2 subtype specializes in recognizing the needs of others as a mechanism of Conservation, a way of receiving love and recognition, thereby creating the image of the "good girl." The consequence is a loss of contact with their own needs. To avoid facing the profound sense of helplessness and vulnerability, they compulsively invest their energy in maintaining control over relationships, always being available, showing empathy, and offering love and understanding.

The basic structure of the Self-Preservation 2 subtype makes them a dependent person. As long as their strategy for maintaining dependent relationships is working and everything is under control, with them feeling loved and protected, the aspects of hysteria will prevail. However, when their efforts are in vain, they may appear dependent, submissive, and depressive, with a real possibility of self-destructive attempts.

The psychoanalyst Karen Horney explains that character neurosis arises when parents fail to provide the child with a loving and secure environment, which generates a basic anxiety that translates into feelings of isolation, helplessness, or hostility. From here, a fixed behavior pattern is born, leading to three possible strategies that give rise to three personality types:

1.Compliant or submissive (moving toward); 2.Aggressive or expansive (moving against); 3.Isolated and resigned (moving away).

The Self-Preservation 2 subtype corresponds to the first of these interpersonal styles, suffering from the basic anxiety of helplessness. In its defensive strategy, they cling to others, try to gain their favor through flattery, subordinate themselves, and are reluctant to disagree. For this personality, being loved is the guarantee they will not be abandoned.

Of the ten neurotic needs described by Horney, the need for affection and approval aligns with the Self-Preservation 2 subtype. People with this need desire to be loved, tend to please others, are sensitive to criticism, and fear hostility.

To avoid feeling helpless or abandoned, the Self-Preservation 2 subtype seeks refuge in a disordered and euphoric life, staying attentive to the needs of others or distracting themselves at parties or surrounded by people. In this sense, we can draw a parallel with Melanie Klein’s depressive position. In the second quarter of the first year of life, the baby recognizes the mother as a separate person, feeling her as the "good breast" when gratified and the "bad breast" when frustrated, which leads to ambivalence of love or hate towards her. The baby becomes aware of their aggression toward the mother, feeling vulnerable. In the depressive position, the predominant anxiety is the fear of losing the good, loved object.

This will lead to idealization as a defense mechanism. The child discards the negative aspects of those they depend on and denies their ambivalent feelings and dependency. The objects are omnipotently controlled and treated with disdain, so their loss does not lead to guilt or pain.

The Self-Preservation 2 subtype tends to shield itself from what is painful and unpleasant through a partial view of reality, simply rejecting what is not pleasant and pleasurable. Like children, they "create" their own reality and end up not truly seeing the world or others.

Of the three subtypes, the Self-Preservation 2 subtype is the one that comes to therapy most often. Naranjo describes repression as the central defense mechanism in E2 type. When the strategies of the Self-Preservation 2 subtype become obsolete and they face the reality that they are not irreplaceable, another defense mechanism typically appears in their intrapsychic dynamics: retroflection, which also brings about depressive tendencies.

The Social 2 and its Narcissistic Aspect

According to Alexander Lowen and Neville Symington, narcissism is at the core of all disorders. For Symington, it is essential in narcissism that one becomes blind to oneself, using most of the psychic energy to keep their true nature hidden.

Symington’s definition of narcissism emphasizes the psychodynamics of the Social 2 subtype:

Essentially envious, they project this intolerable feeling outward, resulting in them being highly envied by others. They are unable to truly relate to other people; they do so primarily through seduction and manipulation. Often, this illusion causes feelings of guilt, which are vigorously suppressed, yet they generate a constant need for confirmation.

Self-awareness is avoided at all costs, and there is almost a total inability (depending on the severity of the narcissistic disorder) to delay the satisfaction of their own needs. Finally, the inner child is a completely repressed instance.

Lowen’s portrait of the narcissist is as follows:

Feelings are continuously denied by the narcissist. Everything they do is to reinforce their own image; the denial of feelings results in indifferent or even ruthless behavior towards others. The narcissist creates a true split of reality, accepting some aspects that become part of their image while rejecting traits they don’t like, projecting them onto others; this also causes an inability to distinguish between truth and lies, and a tendency to lie effortlessly.

Another constant element is physical rigidity. When the first problems arise, the narcissist becomes rigid, denying their feelings. It is this rigidity that prevents feelings from reaching consciousness. The feelings the narcissist expresses are only two: anger and sentimentality (but these are also revealed as false), while they strongly repress sadness and fear because they evoke their vulnerability; a narcissist cannot allow themselves to be vulnerable.

Moreover, they place enormous importance on power (over others) and control (over themselves), believing this way they can protect themselves from humiliation. However, power is never enough, as it nourishes the image but not deep emotionality. Therefore, the narcissist always seeks situations where they can gain social power.

Finally, the need to feel special is expressed through omnipotence, omnipresence, and omniscience, in the belief that they have the right to be adored by all.

Lowen’s multidimensional classification of various narcissistic disorders, shown below, effectively expands and clarifies the DSM-IV classification, which is too one-dimensional. In particular, his description of the phallic-narcissistic or hypervigilant character and the unconscious narcissistic character seems to align well with the Social 2 subtype.

Lowen describes phallic-narcissists as people who tend to flaunt excessive self-confidence and are overly concerned with their image. Even if minimally, all the distinctive elements of narcissism are present in this character: grandiosity, apparent lack of feelings, lack of self-awareness, and lack of reality sense.

In the narcissistic character, the most evident feature is grandiosity, much more pronounced than in the phallic-narcissistic type. These individuals have a strong need to always be considered the best at everything; they demand perfection. Indeed, they are often able to achieve notable successes in various areas, especially in work, as they have great ease in matters related to power and money. As a result, the grandiose image they have of themselves is, to some extent, confirmed by how others see them. However, this image is

false, far from reality. While they manage to achieve great success in the work realm, they feel powerless in the realm of emotions.

In his description of the borderline personality, Lowen also distinguishes two types: one projects an image of themselves with great success, marked by grandiosity, and this seems directed toward E2. Meanwhile, the other is more elusive, vulnerable, with a strong tendency to rely on others. This second typology seems closer to the E4.

In the absence of an adequate parent-child relationship, the self settles into a narcissistic position. The experience of the self then crystallizes into a defensive position and takes on the character of a grandiose and omnipotent self. The child, lacking an empathic relationship, mainly from the mother and father, cannot develop an adequate level of self-esteem, nor can they invest in an idealization of the parents.

Thus, the child invests in themselves, seeking grand recognition from the world.

The narcissistic personality transfers to their ideal self the privileged love they experienced in childhood. The lack of boundaries and appropriate guidance from the parents causes this personality to identify with their ideal self. The self will not obey a controlling and accusatory superego, but rather an ideal self that becomes a loving ally.

The definition of mental health given by Kohut represents an important step in the psychology of the self compared to classical psychoanalysis. The Austrian psychoanalyst states that "due to the improper intrusion of the altruistic value system of Western civilization, narcissism is totally and culpably excluded from the concept of psychological health, and it assumes an exclusively negative and pathological connotation." Kohut proposes replacing Freud's definition of mental health, understood as "the ability to love and work," with the following: "The healthy individual must be able to love and work successfully." This redefinition offers narcissism the possibility of being considered an integral and fundamental part of the individual's positive and healthy potential: a healthy narcissism.

In line with Kohut's proposal, it is appropriate to favor, support, and allow the grandiose self to grow, which is reactivated in the collusive process along with the narcissistic demands that arise each time, and then gradually lead to confrontation with the therapist and with the realities of the situation.